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>> Sunday, May 6, 2007

Lots of DVD's nowadays include small interactive games, as complicated as the DVD software allows for it. It's a nice treat to promote the video and it expands the value of the package. A decade earlier, CD-i would have been even more perfect to include promotional games with video cd's. Every movie had to be pressed on two CD's, and there are only very few titles that make clever use of this space. Like we exposed in our TF1 visit a few weeks back we were eagerly waiting for some visual material of the promised game that was included on the second VideoCD disc. Thankfully this caused an acceleration in our contact road and after the preview Le Monde du CD-i published we will follow with our opinion of some never-before-seen action games on CD-i.

Un Indien dans la Ville shows the importance of "pans" for the native people, and it takes for an act of love when a pan is given to a girl. This theme is implemented in the game as well: The concept is about catching enough pans to offer to Charlotte; one of the main characters of the movie and game. You are Mimi-Siku, the little indian in the big city (hence the title, only in french). When you start the title (Disc 2, that is) you are offered two choices, to watch the second part of the movie or to play the game. The game is only available in french language and that's why you'll only find this game in the original french version of this title. Well, the digital video is nicely built in the intro movie, accessible by clicking "Baboune" in the main menu of the game. The menu consists of windows in the same style as the old Microsoft Windows version: it gives the presentation an original look.

By starting a new game Charlotte will appear who explains you the main purpose: Collect as much pans as possible. You'll enter the main overview map from which you can enter the various mini-games:

1. The Ghost Train: In this game you're in a rail car just like you were in Mystic Midway: Phantom Express. Using the CD-i controller you can move to the left and right to avoid upcoming obstacles. Meanwhile you'll have to catch the pans. After a few minutes the rail track comes to the end of the tunnel. The animations are on par with Philips'own Mystic Midway graphics, so expect nothing more nothing less.

2. Panic on Eiffel Tower: This is a small platform game that plays a little like Donkey Kong. You start on the bottom floor and you work your way up to the top by using elevators (like in Hotel Mario). Scattered around are pans which you have to collect as well. There are guards walking around who shouldn't catch you, otherwise its game-over for you. From the top barrels of paint are thrown down but it's not hard to reach the third floor. The animation is a little poor and the game is over pretty quick, but the sweet attention to the movie gives it a nice touch.

3. Attention to Crocodiles: Here you have to cross a river by jumping on the backs of crocodiles. It's exactly the same gameplay as in Frogger, the ultimate classic in these type of games. The crocodiles are in three lines and dive from time to time so you have to jump around, collect pans, avoid from falling into the water and so on. You receive one pan every time you reach the other side. It's over quickly, but the game is responsive enough to entertain you!

4. The Rapids from Lipo-Lipo: You are in a canoe floating around and from top-view you have to avoid trunks, rocks and crocodiles. Again, you have to collect pans which are around everywhere. This game definately offers the most action and fun of the total package! But while playing these games I have to admit the fun is limited to a fast experience of all these little games. You can't compare it with games like Family Games, which basically is about the same sort of collection of mini-games, only Family Games has been worked out with much more perfection than "Un Indien dans la Ville".

5. Good appetite Maitika: This is the biggest game without a doubt, with different stages to complete (increasing in difficulty). Maitika the Spider wants to eat flies and you have to shoot the flies using your 'snorkel'. Located in the house, you poison the flies which are everywhere in the rooms. When you have killed 10 flies, you win. The next levels (total of five) are more difficult and require more flies to catch. There's also a time limit which is challenging you to the max!

The cartoony graphics are definately on its place and TF1 did a good job in extending the movie with this collection of mini-games. As an extra, they are very welcome, but when you think of the Game Boy version which offers basically the same games, it's too short and blant to call it a real game. I appreciated the audio commentary of Stephan and Charlotte although my french language is not perfect. If you don't understand french, you can still play the games as the objectoves are pretty clear, but you miss most of the storyline and fun when you don't. Don't expect a full-fletched CD-i game here, but it's worth mentioning as a succeeded extra to the original movie.

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